Edna, Texas – After the tragic murders of two young women, Texas mother Jacqueline Medina is calling for change. Her 16-year-old daughter, Lizbeth Medina, was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant in December. Similarly, Georgia college student Laken Riley was slain by another illegal immigrant in February.
Rafael Govea Romero, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, is accused of stabbing Lizbeth to death in their shared apartment. In a separate incident, Jose Antonio Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, allegedly killed Riley with a blow to the head while she was jogging on the University of Georgia campus.
Both Lizbeth and Riley aspired to become nurses, emphasizing their shared dreams of helping others. Medina highlighted her daughter’s academic achievements and aspirations to study at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Medina stressed the need for stricter laws to protect communities from individuals with violent criminal histories, regardless of their immigration status. She emphasized the importance of creating a safer world to prevent further senseless tragedies like those experienced by her family and Riley’s.
Medina, who tragically found her daughter dead in their bathtub, reiterated that this issue is not about politics but rather about safeguarding loved ones. She called for unity in society to ensure the well-being and security of all individuals from such violent acts.
Romero, the suspect in Lizbeth’s murder, faces charges of capital murder and has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On the other hand, Ibarra, the suspect in Riley’s murder, faces a laundry list of charges, including malice murder, felony murder, and kidnapping.
Both suspects entered the United States illegally and were involved in violent acts that resulted in the loss of innocent lives. The incidents have sparked debates about border security and the need for comprehensive immigration reform to prevent similar tragedies in the future.